The media tours the renovated Madison Square Garden in New York Oct. 24. The $1 billion in improvements include luxury suites, premium seating and two bridges above the seating bowl.

(AP Photo)

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The Garden opened the following night for the New York Knicks’ final preseason game against the Charlotte Bobcats.

The new interior features two sky bridges that include seating high above the arena floor. Another change is a transformed 7th Avenue entrance, which nearly doubled in size and features a new merch store, the “Garden of Dreams” area and two 600-square-foot video screens.

Also included in the renovations are a center-hung multimedia display, 18 transformed suites with center-stage views for concerts, and a restoration of the ceiling.
Previous changes, completed last year, were new lower-bowl seating, an expanded concourse, 20 new event-level suites and 58 new suites on the Lexus Madison Suite Level.

“Madison Square Garden is uniquely beloved by both the fans in the seats and the athletes and performers they’ve come to see – and we are pleased to transform it for the next generation,” MSG Chairman James Dolan said.

The project was funded entirely by MSG. However, the New York City Council voted in July to only extend the arena lease for 10 years and, at that time, it may need to vacate its location above Penn Station.